Stoke v Everton preview

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Ireland is set for two to three weeks on the sidelines due to the calf injury he sustained as a result of a controversial Maynor Figueroa tackle in the 1-0 win over Hull on Saturday.

Defender and skipper Ryan Shawcross (back) remains unavailable.

Everton defender Leighton Baines faces a late fitness test ahead of the trip.

The England international has missed the last two matches with a thigh injury and will be assessed to see whether he is ready to return.

Midfielder Christian Atsu, who missed Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal with a virus, will not resume training until Friday.

Stoke v Everton preview

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Stoke will check on the fitness of Matthew Etherington and Jon Walters ahead of their game against the Toffees on New Year’s Day.

Etherington (ankle) and Walters (shoulder) both had to come off during Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham as they were still feeling the effects of the knocks they had picked up in the 2-0 win at Blackburn on Boxing Day.

Robert Huth is suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the season in the game against the Cottagers.

Everton will again give fitness tests to defenders Phil Jagielka and John Heitinga ahead of the trip to the Potteries.

Jagielka (thigh) and Heitinga (knee) are both said to have an “outside chance” of featuring, according to manager David Moyes.

Striker Victor Anichebe is again missing as he serves the second game of a three-match suspension, while midfield talisman Tim Cahill will play his final match before joining up with his Australia team-mates for the Asia Cup.

Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Wilson, Diao, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Pennant, Walters, Fuller, Jones, Gudjohnsen, Tuncay.

Everton (from): Howard, Hibbert, Neville, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta, Saha, Rodwell, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Yakubu, Gueye, Baxter, Duffy, Jagielka, Heitinga, Mucha.